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These times have been hard and I know you have struggled so. It has not been easy to watch you fight with each day, yet you must gain strength and know your weakness.

“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

The higher climb is difficult terrain–scaling mountains you have only seen from afar in the past. Your enemy is nearer to your face when you are facing your mountain.

Speak to the mountain as you climb.

“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Mark 11:23-24

With each new step, speak your accomplishment; speak your decisions. Do not look down to see how far you have come until you reach the top; for you will follow what you see.

Keep looking at Me!

The higher you climb, the clearer the view. You may understand when someone relates an experience to you, but, when you climb that mountain yourself–you know!

Delight in accomplishment; celebrate the victory, but do not become prideful or you will fall. When pride comes to call, look around you at all that you have yet to accomplish–look to Me–you’re still small.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” I Corinthians 13:2-3

There is more to learn.

Always more.

But what I want you to know, as you’re struggling so, you’re not failing–you are continuing to grow. Fight the good fight of faith.

Use the tools you’ve been given.

You’re nearer than you think. Often it is only the top of the mountain that peaks out of the clouds. Climb until you reach the glory and don’t look back!

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalms 50:14-15

“Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.” Titus 2:7-8

“For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” II Corinthians 2:14

“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” Psalms 128:1-2

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalms 103:2-5

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:17-18

“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” Psalms 29:11

The path of light is sometimes rocky, but not so that you stumble.

It is in the light that you see clearly to make your way. There may be rocks, but you will see them, and know as in the day, what you’re dealing with–that you not slip.

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling.” I John 2:10

I teach, but do not tempt.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” James 1:13-14

Many think that I give them tests, but I do not try to trip you and I AM here for you always. But I would rather that you see the rock and learn how not to fall. For this is part of your call–to learn to walk steady and tall–weathering it all.

Therefore, I do not remove the stumbling stones and I give you full rein to roam–allowing you to make choices–I wait and see. If you call this a test, then so let it be. But still, I’d much prefer that you come, follow Me.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” I John 1:5-7

For in My light you’ll see clearly the path along the way.

We’ll step lightly around the rocks that would hinder your day.

Pass the test–pass it on by.

You’ll never know, until you try!

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” I Peter 4:12-13

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! by his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.” I Peter 1:3-9

“I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. do not enter the path of the wicked and do not walk in the way of evil men.” Proverbs 4:11-14

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14

It is good that you wait for My voice. There are many voices in this world, clamoring for your attention. Some would seem to have good intentions and some, it is evident, do not.

Listen

“Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” I Timothy 4:7-8

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5

Do not be hasty to obey–if you are unsure of the call, wait.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

I AM in no hurry and neither should you be. I take you slowly, but steadily forward. Sure, strong steps that you not slip and therefore become discouraged.

Practice is essential; with each new task you learn. Do not be hasty to arrive, but think about your stride. My direction is all around you, when you seek inside. Confusion will never lead you.

Stop, listen.

Do nothing more than run to the door. Open the door to Me, that you may see, but do not run out the door without your keys.

Do you see?

I will be your guide, but you must wait on Me. I AM the key that unlocks the door to more.

I AM the door.

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:7-10

I AM more.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

I AM

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”” John 8:58

Key

“He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.'” Revelation 3:5-7

Now listen.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:20-22

“–may you be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9b-14

Complacency lacks desire to further My Kingdom–in their heart or in the life they live. Much is lost when one becomes ‘settled’, contented to live out their days seeking nothing more than good friends and a days’ work–the simple pleasures of life. Life is teaming all around them, but they do not see for ‘life’ is all about me.

If it’s all about you, then what are you going to do when your life ends and you find that it was all about Me?

But you couldn’t see for you were complacent.

All about Me isn’t selfish you see, for I AM all about others; those all around you–you see, but you don’t ‘see’ for when you make it ‘all about me’ you simply don’t see those I place all around you who need ‘Me’.

Stop thinking about you and make it all about ‘Me’.

Which is others inside of Me, for I carry them all in My heart–as I carry you; for I AM all about you, but you just don’t ‘see’ for the complacency.

Do you see?

Stir up the gift that is within you and come along with Me!

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” Proverbs 19:20-21

“And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:14-18

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 5:25-6:2

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find? A righteous man who walks in his integrity–blessed are his sons after him!” Proverbs 20:6-7

When it seems as if your life isn’t moving forward–think again.

Have you ever stopped to watch a hummingbird? The hummingbird moves its wings at an incredible rate and yet stands still in midair to drink.

When it seems as if you stand still, and your life isn’t moving forward, think of the hummingbird. So much motion–barely perceptible to the human eye, yet he drinks sweet nectar and lives.

I want you to leave the motion to Me.

Understand that even though you may not see it, much is happening on your behalf. I want you tofind the sweetnessin life.

If you worry about all the details, you’ll miss the BLESSING.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feed them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27

If you worry–you’ll miss it!

Worry will actually cause you to stand still, for then we must stop and work on worry, to get you back in faith–to move forward.

You work too hard at reaching your destination. I want you to enjoy today.

Drink deeply the nectar I have for you in this day, knowing that tomorrow, there will be more.

“Your lips distil nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 4:11

Those who trust Me for their tomorrow, thoroughly, will enjoy their today like there is no tomorrow!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Matthew 6:34

“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalms 103:15-18

“For he satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.” Psalms 107:9

“I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; also that it is God’s gift to man that every one should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.

I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has made it so, in order that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:10-14

“O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalms 34:8

So much precious life is wasted asking, Why?

If you need to know, you will, but sometimes answers come slowly, and some never will.

Trust never wavers–never stops to wonder why–for ‘why’ will cause you to wander. It is the root of doubt and will tear down your faith for you are stagnant when you wait for that which may never come.

Seek to know the answers in My Word.

For there you won’t wonder, for you will knowwhy–when you see why you wait.

Do you see?

No wonder!

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” Job 32:8

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Psalms 37:30-31

“Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.” Psalms 37:34

Dramatic changes are coming your way and you will find it best–

to learn how to rest.

All are My Love.

You are never alone–means that you not only have My companionship, but that you literally do nothing alone. My Holy Spirit teaches you from within–where to begin.

“And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

Follow through, is an important key.

When you begin–you ask.

I give you a task.

Don’t continue to ask, but work on what I gave you. So many keep praying, keep asking, but never launch out into the deep for a draught.

“Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

Blessing comes in obedience–stepping out in faith with what you know.

Continuing with more–

as you grow.

Peter took in the biggest catch of his life and then promptly left it to follow Me. You see, it’s not about the ‘catch’, but the direction I call you to.

The catch will follow you, as you go.

You are not pursuing a lifestyle, you are pursuing Me and a Kingdom–“My style.” I will give you all you need and more, as you continue to open each door and follow–

follow My lead.

“If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26

Shall we proceed?

Be ready for more.

So much more!

“And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” for he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:4-11